Envoys equipped to share Botswana diamond story
The 2024 Heads of Mission Conference concluded positively, with envoys reaching an agreement aimed at enhancing effectiveness in fulfilling the Ministry’s mandate. is outcome encompasses administrative and nancial matters, alongside internal communication and coordination improvements. During the closing session of the conference, Ambassador Dr Athaliah Molokomme, Dean of the Botswana Diplomatic Corps and Permanent Representative of Botswana to the United Nations o ce in Geneva and other international organisations, said the conference was a resounding success.
She said key foreign policy issues were discussed, including Botswana’s place in the world, and the result was a rea rmation of commitment to multilateralism and the letter and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations. Envoys received guidance on the National Transformation Strategy and the expected contribution of Missions towards Botswana’s attainment of HighIncome status by 2036.
Sectoral engagements on
the MICE Strategy; Trade and Investment; and on National Security issues enabled the Ministry and the respective stakeholders to evaluate in detail their intersecting mandates and to ne- tune the methods and approaches, which will lead to better results in advancing Botswana’s interests abroad.
Molokomme said the conference entailed excursions to Lobu Small Stock Farm and Ramatlabama Arti cial Insemi
nation Centre where Envoys committed to facilitate scienti c and business exchanges that would contribute to value chain development in key strategic entities in the agricultural sector.
Envoys paid a visit to Khuis Primary School in the Tsabong District where they pledged a donation of a printer from contributions by themselves, to be augmented by two Computers from Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority
( BOCRA). Envoys were greeted by highly- motivated and disciplined pupils who had prepared their own theme for the visit, namely: ‘ New frontiers of Diplomacy: the route to excellence’.
Envoys agreed to adopt the school, which will result in further initiatives to support various aspects in accordance with guidelines of the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. Molokomme said during the excursion to Jwaneng Debswana Mine, Envoys learnt about the existing global market share of Botswana diamonds, including market opportunities and threats. Discussions entailed prospective collaboration to share the Botswana diamond story with the international community. Envoys also visited the Selebi- Phikwe Citrus Project, where key learnings were acquired on some of the practicalities and considerations involved in facilitating large scale Foreign Direct Investment. is will greatly assist Missions in their e orts to attract FDI. e high- level engagements with President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, Minister of Foreign A airs, Dr Lemogang Kwape, Permanent Secretary to the President Emma Peloetletse, Chief of Sta , Boyce Sebetlela - produced ample guidance and strategic focus for the Envoys. is guidance will help the Ministry to live up to the theme of the Conference - ‘ to Advance Botswana towards a high income, inclusive and knowledge- based economy through strategic global engagements’.
Molokomme said Envoys felt that it would be appropriate for some of the outcomes of the Conference to be incorporated into discussions on the Ministry’s 2024- 2025 Annual Plan. Following the presentation of reports, Envoys proposed that, “we re ect on the identi ed high- level strategic issues and the enablers” emanating from the conference, namely, communication strategy, rationalisation of Missions, human resources/ sta ng, conditions of service, financial issues, IT Support and Properties.